Chapter 16 : The Tournament
The town square and three fields next to it were taken over by the Valmere tournament for four days every June. People from around Vesperas central province came to watch and sometimes people from other areas would show up too. The tournament was not super big or fancy. It was important and people took it seriously. Elias was learning that it was one thing to think you are a fighter but it was another thing to actually be one.
Elias was entered into the tournament as Alric Vesh, the son of a merchant family from Valmere. Harlan had come up with this story. Mira had helped make it sound real. The name was close enough to Eliass name that he would answer to it without thinking. The story was that he was from a family but not too important so he could enter the tournament without anyone raising an eyebrow.
Elias was fifteen. This was his first big test. The day of the sword competition. He knew what he had to do. He had to be what the situation needed him to be without showing off much. He had to win without making it look too easy. He had to remember that there was more to fighting than the person in front of him.
The air was cool that morning. It smelled like summer in Valmere. Cut grass, horse sweat and the smell of the blacksmiths fire. There were tents all around the square and people were starting to arrive. Elias stood at the edge of the up area holding a practice sword that felt just like the real one he would use in the tournament. Aldric had told him to practice with the sword he would use in the real matches so he could get used to it.
There were eight people in the mens bracket and they were all getting ready to start. Elias watched them trying to learn much as he could about each one. He looked at how they stood how they held their swords and how they moved. He saw that three of them were very experienced and they moved with a confidence that came from knowing what they were doing.
Two of the fighters were young and talented. They seemed to be following a plan rather than really fighting. They would be fast and precise. They would lose if something unexpected happened. The other three fighters were not as good. They seemed to be trying to figure things out as they went along.
Aldric had told Elias that the ones who were not as good would surprise themselves when they lost because they did not know how much better Elias was. The experienced fighters were the ones Elias had to be careful with because they would know what they were looking at. Elias had to show them what he wanted them to see.
Aldric had said that Elias should not try to dominate the tournament or show off all his skills. He should just try to win efficiently. He should be a fighter but not a great one. He should be forgettable.
Elias went out to fight. His first match was against one of the less experienced fighters, a man named Ferris. Ferris came at him with a swing and Elias stepped out of the way. Ferris attacked again. Elias deflected the blow without counterattacking. Ferris was getting tired. Elias could see that he was not a very good fighter.
The third attack was slower. Elias saw his chance. He stepped into the space that Ferris had left open. His blade came up to stop just short of Ferriss neck. The tournament master stopped the match. The crowd clapped politely. Ferris. Elias could see that he was relieved to be done.
Elias walked back to his marker waiting for the match. Aldric had told him to use the time, between matches to breathe to reset his attention and to forget about the match. What he had just done did not matter, because the next match was all that counted. The past was something to forget. Elias tried to do just that.
Elias was in the middle of a tournament. The second match was against Corin of the South Bank. Corin was younger, eighteen years old. He was very intense like someone who had been told he was good and believed it. Corin came out swinging, no warming up or feeling out his opponent. His moves were what Elias expected: a high cut to the left a low cut to the right and a thrust to the center. Elias defended each attack with movement not because he couldn't have ended the match sooner but because he didn't want to show too much in front of the other competitors.
Elias let Corins sequence go on for three rounds. On the round Corin was a bit slower and Elias saw his chance. He stepped in. Placed his blade against Corins ribs with precision. The crowd applauded louder this time. Some people whistled. Elias kept his face neutral. Nodded to Corin.
The third match was tougher. Eliass opponent was Harvel of the North Watch a man from the estates. Harvel was patient. Had a low center of gravity. He had a sword and functional gear but his eyes moved with a focus that showed he had learned to see what mattered. They. The tournament master dropped his hand. Nothing happened for a moment.
Harvel didn't. Test Elias. He just stood there watching him with an expression. Elias made the move not because he wanted to but because the match required it. If neither fighter moved the tournament master would call for a reset, which would favor Harvel. Elias had learned this from Aldric during a practice session.
Elias took a step forward extended his blade and watched Harvels reaction. Harvel didn't take the bait. He shifted his weight. Changed the angle of his guard waiting for Eliass next move. The match went on with each movement a conversation between the two fighters. Elias learned that Harvels left side was less protected and Harvel learned that Eliass footwork was better than expected.
They came together for the real exchange after two minutes. Harvel attacked with a cut and Elias defended. The impact traveled up his arm and Elias knew Harvel was stronger than he looked. They. Circled, the crowd quiet and focused. The second exchange came thirty seconds later with Elias initiating. Harvel. Elias saw an opening.
The match went on for eleven exchanges. Elias won by positioning himself and forcing Harvel to defend an angle he was less comfortable with. The crowd applauded longer this time. Some people stood up. Elias lowered his blade. Stepped back.
Harvel looked at him with a newfound respect. "Where are you from?" he asked. Elias said he was from Valmere, which was the answer he had been told to give. He said it easily without hesitation. Harvel. Walked away and Elias knew he had passed a test.
There was a girl watching from the gallery. She was young, dressed in clothing and had dark hair pulled back from her face. She watched Elias with focus her gaze moving from his blade to his feet to his face. She had been watching since his match tracking something specific about his performance.
The fourth match was against Rennick, an lean competitor. He fought with his height using his reach to create angles that shorter opponents couldn't counter. But Elias saw a pattern: Rennick dropped his shoulder before thrusting. Elias let the first three attacks come and go, defending enough to keep the match alive. On the attack he stepped forward and placed his blade against Rennicks hip.
The match was over in, than a minute. Rennick looked at Elias with curiosity. "Where did you learn to move like that?" he asked. Elias said he learned from Aldric, which was true but vague. Rennick. Walked away and Elias knew he needed better answers to peoples questions.
Elias was in the match against a big and strong competitor named Gregor. Gregor had won his matches by using his strength to overpower his opponents. He was well-trained. Believed that force was the best way to win a sword fight.
Elias discovered that Gregor was not prepared for someone who would not fight him in the same way. Gregor attacked with a lot of force. Elias moved quickly and easily. Gregor swung his sword. Elias was not there. Gregor tried to thrust his sword. Elias deflected it and moved away. The match was over in six exchanges. Gregor did not touch Elias at all. Elias touched Gregor three times. The third time was the final blow that made Gregor lose his balance.
Gregor was very upset. His face turned red. He wanted to say something. He knew he had lost the match fairly. He walked away without looking
The final match was against a competitor named Ser Aldus. Ser Aldus was an experienced fighter who had won the Valmere tournament three times. He was not tall or strong. He was a complete fighter who had learned to use his limitations to his advantage.
The crowd was bigger for the match and Elias could feel the weight of their attention. The other competitors were watching from the gallery and the girl with hair was still there watching him with a focused gaze.
The match. Elias felt that Ser Aldus was different from the other competitors. He was not trying to attack or defend. Rather waiting for Elias to reveal his strategy. Elias tried to probe Ser Aldus. He deflected the attack with a minimal movement.
The match became a conversation than a fight. Elias learned that Ser Aldus was very patient and not in a hurry. Ser Aldus learned that Elias had footwork and composure.
They exchanged blows. Elias realized that Ser Aldus was better than he thought. Ser Aldus found a weakness in Eliass guard. Elias adjusted his stance and shifted his weight.
The final blow came on the exchange. Elias had been building up to an opening and Ser Aldus made a choice that gave Elias the opportunity to attack. Elias touched the flat of his sword to Ser Alduss chest. The match was over.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Elias felt a sense of satisfaction. Ser Aldus. Said, "You're not from Valmere. You're something. Don't let them make you something else." He saluted Elias. Walked away.
Later Elias met Aldric, his trainer in the waiting area. Aldric said, "You showed the form in your second match." Elias was surprised because he thought he had been careful not to reveal it. Aldric also said, "You were managing what you showed. Choosing. Not from fear of winning. From understanding why winning differently matters."
Elias realized that he had to be careful about what he showed and what he hid. He had to manage his performance and his capacity. He felt ready for the challenge.
The girl, with hair appeared at the entrance of the waiting area looked at Elias and nodded. Then she. Walked away. Elias did not know her name or her purpose. He knew he would see her again.